Superintendent Matt MacCurtain presented a preliminary $34.7 million Fiscal Year 2027 school budget to the Select Board on Wednesday, anchored by a $1.33 million increase in salary costs and a looming $400,000 septic crisis at the Middle School. The level-service proposal does not restore positions cut during the previous fiscal cycle but is being squeezed by what MacCurtain described as horrible spikes in utility costs following a new gas contract. Beyond energy, the district is grappling with rising state inspection fees and maintenance for aging facilities. The cost to bring people in to work on boilers and roofs just keeps going up, MacCurtain told the board. State inspection costs are ridiculous, and we have no one else to go to but the state.

The most significant capital request involves relocating the Middle School’s septic leaching field. Currently, the system pumps waste underneath Route 123 to the Old Town Hall property, a configuration officials say creates a liability for any future redevelopment of that municipal site. Select Board member John McGrath threw his full support behind the $400,000 project, noting it is essential for the town's long-term planning. I'm a strong advocate of you doing this because it helps us be proactive with that property no matter what we do, whether it's a multi-generational facility or we sell it, McGrath said. No one wants a random septic going underneath their property.

Town Administrator Darlene Sullivan emphasized the goal of keeping the entire fiscal plan within the tax levy to avoid an operational override or the depletion of stabilization funds. We'd really like to try to get everything under the levy and not need to do some other resourceful things like special ed stabilization, Sullivan noted. The budget also includes a $150,000 request to catch up on a lapsed technology replacement cycle for teacher laptops and student iPads, along with funding to restore six freshman and junior varsity athletic teams previously sustained by parent booster clubs.

Concerns over the Old Town Hall site led the board to establish a new Plan B committee to study alternative uses for the building should the proposed multi-generational facility encounter budget roadblocks. McGrath argued the town cannot afford to lose a year of planning if the primary project fails. Member Andrew Reardon suggested the committee should think broadly about the property's potential. Maybe we should put a realtor [on the committee], Reardon joked, Maybe we can sell it. Member Lorenda Layne insisted that the group include representatives from specific user groups to ensure the community's needs are met. I agree. I think making sure those constituencies have guaranteed seats is important, Layne said. Motion Made by L. Layne to form a seven-member Town Hall Reuse Committee including seats for Recreation and the Council on Aging (Motion Passed 3-0-0).

The board also moved to finalize the upcoming political calendar. Motion Made by L. Layne to set the Special and Annual Town Meeting for May 4, 2026, and the Annual Town Election for May 16, 2026 (Motion Passed 5-0-0). In a separate vote, the board adjusted the start time for the Town Meeting to accommodate higher anticipated turnout. Motion Made by P. Smellie to start the Special and Annual Town Meeting at 7:00 p.m. (Motion Passed 5-0-0). Chair Peter Smellie also provided a brief update on administrative improvements, noting that Darlene was able to start getting some of the bids in for the budget reporting software, so we'll start beginning that process shortly. Motion Made by P. Smellie to open the Annual Town Meeting warrant with a closing date of Feb. 18, 2026 (Motion Passed 5-0-0).

Vice Chair Brian Greenberg, arriving from a Planning Board session, announced the recommendation of Nick Quinto as Norwell’s new Town Planner. Quinto, a Marshfield resident with 15 years of economic development experience, is expected to lead a triage of urgent zoning updates. Jerry O'Neill, the Building Commissioner, has been outstanding, Greenberg said. He's identified a number of things that might need our attention. Before concluding, the board paused to honor the memories of former Select Board member David Turner and long-time fire captain and electrical inspector John Moore, both of whom passed away recently. Reardon noted that both men and their families made significant contributions to our town over decades of service.